Bed frame having pivoted sprung sections



i March 1, 1966 G. J. BIRGBAUER, SR

BED FRAME HAVING PIVOTED SPRUNG SECTIONS a iE/sf Original Filed July 5, 1965 United States Patent O 3,237,213 BED FRAME HAVING PIVOTED SPRUNG SECTIONS Gordon .lohn Birgbauer, Sr., Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., assignor to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Continuation of application Ser. No. 292,568, .luly 3, 1963. This application Dec. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 422,157 6 Claims. (Cl. 5 149) This is a continuation of U.S. patent application S.N. 292,568, filed July 3, 1963, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to spring surfaces for beds and particularly to a spring surface for a folding bed which has lframe sections in pivotal relation t-o each other.

Difliculty has always been experienced in providing a spring surface for a bed of the folding type. A plurality of different lengths of frame sections are pivoted together in a manner to fold over upon each other so that the bed can be stored in a seat of a davenport. Mesh fabric or cable material had been employed heretofore which was held on the end frame sections by coil springs to provide some resiliency. Such mesh fabric or cable material does not have any resiliency in and of itself and such constructions have had to rely on coil springs located around the periphery of the mesh and securing the mesh to the frame. The result, of course, is an uncomfortable sleeping surface which deects greatly in the middle, or under the load, stressing the peripheral coil springs for the slight amount of resilience. The hammocking of the mesh provides a wholly unsatisfactory support for the user.

The advantages of individually resilient sinuous spring strips in seating or bedding has long been recognized. However, such spring strips have not heretofore been used in beds of the folding type because of the action of such strips. When sinuous spring strips are used, they are pre-formed in an arc and the arc flattened when the spring is mounted at its ends. Such pre-forming places a considerable load on the side members to which the strips are secured, requiring cross-bracing and the like to maintain the frame in its proper shape. Such bracing has normally been avoided. Since the 'braces have to be spaced a considerable distance from the mesh spring in order to avoid being contacted by the user, and they would interrfere with other elements when the structure is folded. Furthermore, sinuous springs, being flat, must be located away from the pivot connections between the frame sections. Otherwise, the folding action would tend to twist the spring strips. The nature of such sinuous spring strips does not accommodate such twisting, th-us the structure cannot be properly folded.

It is here proposed to provide frame sections with a spring surface made of strips of sinuously formed wire which span the frame sections from one side to the other thereof, the frame sections being formed to pivot relative to each other for folding. The loops of the strips of each frame section are interconnected by links and the adjacent strips of each frame section are similarly connected so that each frame With the spring strips thereon can be folded rela-tive to an adjacent frame without having any interference occurring between the spring strips. The frame sections may be supported for various types of pivoting movements such as those now being employed for bed divans. Suitable crossebracing is provided to counterbalance the pre-tensioned spring members. Since the springs are arced upwardly, the cross-bracing can be located so as not to interfere with other elements. Thus a folding bed structure is provided with springing in each of the separate frame sections in a manner to form a continuous spring surface when the frames are moved into extended relation to each other. The frame sections are ice so constructed as to be manufactured in individual spring sections and later joined in pivotal relation to form the completed bed frame structure.

Accordingly, the main objects 0f the invention are: to provide a spring surface for a bed made up of a plurality of pivoted independently sprung sections; to provide each section of a plurality of joined frames of a foldable bed with transversely disposed spring strips which are evenly spaced apart and interconnected by C-shaped links so located that the frames of each section hinge on the pivots thereof without interference of the spring strips; to strike out tongues from angle shaped rails forming the sides of frame sections over which the ends of springs are hooked and disposed in opposite directions to have the loops of the strips disposed in aligned relation for the reception of the C-shaped connecting links, and in general to provide independent pivotal frames having independently sprung surfaces which may be joined to form a foldable bed which is simple in construction, which hinges on the pivots between the sections and which are economical of manufacture. I

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side View in elevation of a foldable bed frame having a spring surface thereon embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a broken plan View of the structure illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a reduced View of the structure illustrated in FIGURE l, when partially folded;

FIGURE 4 is a View of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 3 with the frame parts shown in full folded position, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section of View of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 2, taken on the line 5-5 thereof.

Referring more particularly to the draw-ings, the frame 10, herein illustrated by way of example, i-s shown attached to a base 11 of a divan into which the pivoted sections of the frame fold. In FIGURE 3 it will be noted that the first frame section 13, the second frame section 14 and a third frame section 1S are in angular, partially folded relation to each other. The third frame 15 is raised and pushed backwardly to have the fourth frame section 16 swung upwardly into vertical position, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, with the rst frame section 13 disposed in parallel spaced relation to the third frame section 15. Any number of frame sections may be employed in this manner in pivotal relation to each other so as to fold into the seat of a divan or davenport. The novelty of the present invention resides in the application of the spring strips to the frame sections in such manner that a continuous spring surface will be provided across the entire frame assembly when the frame sections are disposed in longitudinal extension of each other.

All of the frame sections are made of angle members, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, With tongues 17 struck from the horizontal flange thereof in evenly spaced distances apart so as to have the like sinuous spring strips 13 evenly distributed throughout the length of the frame sections when in longitudinal extension of each other. The spring strips are made of wire bent into sinuous form to have transverse end portions 19 which extend over the tongues 17 aligned on oppos-ite sides of the sections with the spring strips tensioned thereacross. It will be noticed that while the spring strips are of like construction that they are mounted on the frame in pairs to have ends 19 alternate to extend in opposite directions on each adjacent spring.

This disposes the adjacent loop-s 21 of the strips in aligned relation, in position to be joined by C-shaped links 23 to form a continuous surface.

It will be noted that tive spring strips are employed in the first frame section 13, the side ele-ments of which are joined at the front end by a C-chaped tube 24 to which the ends Z5 of coil springs 26 are secured. The opposite ends 27 of the coil springs are hooked over the adjacent loop of the endmost sinuous spring strip 18. The second frame section 14 has a tubular brace 2S secured by rivets 29 for the purpose of spacing the two frame members of the section a predetermined distance apart. The tubular brace 28 drops downwardly so as to not interfere with the detiection of the two springs 13 which are secured to the two tongues 17 provided in the spaced side members of the section. The first frame section 13 is secured to the second frame section 14 by pivots 31 and the spring strips thereof have certain of the aligned loops joined by the links 23.

Similarly, the second section 14 is connected to the third section 15 by pivots 32 with the hinge line between the two sections 14 and 15 passing through the links 23 connecting the spring strips of the adjacent sections. The third section 1S is secured to the fourth section 16 by pivots 33, a line which passes through the links 23 joining the adjacent spring strips of the sections.

It will thus be seen that each of the sections can be pivoted relative to the other without effecting the springs which are stretched across the side members thereof. The connecting links 23 employed for joining the spring strips of the sections will not interfere with the movement of the adjacent strips relative to each other during the hinging operation. When all of the sections are in extended position, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, all of the links will engage the aligned loops at the hinge lines and will provide a continuous spring surface over the entire frame structure with end springs 26 and 34 connecting the endmost strips of the frames 13 and 16 to the end elements thereof.

The tongues 17 struck out from the bottom ange of the side rail members substantially simplifies the attachment of the springs between the rails. A substantial and dependable sprung surface is provided for the entire bed when the frame sections are in extended relation and the spring strips are positively retained on the rail members by the tongues 17. While one particular form of bed frame is illustrated, that having four sprung sections, it is to be understood that any number of sections can be employed to make up the frame. The spring strips are applied to the sections in a manner to have the adjacent spring strips of adjacent frame sections spaced apart, the same distance as the spring strips are spaced apart in the sections to prevent interference on the hinge lines between the sections. The arrangement provides a like continuous spring support from one to the other end of the frame when the sections are disposed in aligned relation to each other.

It will be seen that the individual frame sections may be manufactured as separate sprung units, and then assembled together, Each unit will include its own springs, properly joined to the frame rails, the units then being assembled in their pivotal relationship and connecting links added to secure adjacent loops of the adjacent, or end, springs in adjoining units. Thus, a completed assembly will be formed in a more simple and eicient manner.

I claim:

1. In a foldable bed:

a plurality of frame sections pivotally secured together and =movable from a folded to an extended relation to each other;

a plurality of sinuous spring strips secured in each of said frame sections, said strips being substantially the same distance apart when said frame sections are in extended relation, and adjacent strips in adjacent frame sections being disposed on opposite sides of the pivot axis between said adjacent frame sections; and a plurality of connecting links securing adjacent spring strips together. 5 2. In combination:

a plurality of bed frame sections pivotally secured together along axes transverse thereto and movable from a folded to an extended relation to each other, said frame sections having tabs struck therefrom and spaced along the longitudinal portions thereof;

a plurality of cross-brace members extending between the longitudinal portions `of said frame sections;

a plurality of sinuous spring strips in each of said frame sections and secured at the ends thereof under said tabs, said strips being located so that said pivot axes pass between adjacent spring strips, and said spring strips being spaced substantially the same distance apart when said frame sections are in extended relation;

and a plurality of connecting links securing adjacent spring strips together.

3. In a foldable bed having a plurality of frame sections pivotally joined together and movable between folded and extended positions relative to each other, each of said frame sections including:

side rail members extending longitudinally of said bed;

pivot means at at least one end of said rail members and on an axis transverse of said bed;

a plurality of sinuous spring strips secured at the ends thereof to said rail members and extending therebetween and inwardly of said pivot axis, said strips being disposed in opposing relation to have the loops of adjacent strips in aligned relation;

and a plurality of connecting links secured to said adjacent loops of said adjacent spring strips to maintain said strips in substantially equally spaced relation.

4. In a foldable bed having a plurality of frame sections pivotally joined together and movable between 40 folded and extended positions relative to each other, each of said frame sections including:

side rail members extending longitudinally of said bed;

a plurality of spaced tabs struck from said side rail members;

pivot means on at least one end of said rail members and on an axis transverse of said bed;

a plurality of sinuous spring strips extending between said rail members and having the ends thereof received and secured under said tabs, all of said spring strips being located inwardly of said pivot axis, and said strips being disposed in opposing relation to have the loops of adjacent strips in aligned relation;

and a plurality of connecting links secured to said adjacent loops of said adjacent spring strips to maintain said strips in substantially equally spaced relation.

5. A frame section for a foldable bed adapted to be pivotally secured to another frame section and comprislng:

side rail members;

pivot means on at least one end of said side rail members and having an axis laterally thereof;

at least one cross-brace extending between said side rail members;

a plurality of sinuous springs secured at the ends thereof to said side rail members and extending therebetween, all of said spring strips being located inwardly of said pivot axis, and said strips being disposed in opposite relation to have adjacent loops in aligned relation;

and a plurality of connecting links secured to said adjacent loops of said adjacent spring strips to maintain said strips in substantially equally spaced relation.

6. A frame section for a :foldable bed adapted to be pivotally secured to another frame section and comprising:

spaced side rails; pivot means on at least one end of said side rails and having a pivot axis laterally thereof; at least one cross-brace extending between said side rails; a plurality of spaced tabs struck from said side rails; a plurality of sinuous spring strips extending between said side rails and having the ends thereof received and secured under said tabs, all of said spring strips being disposed inwardly of said pvot axis, and said strips being disposed in opposing relation to have adjacent loops in aligned relation; and a plurality of connecting links secured to said adjacent loops of said adjacent spring strips to maintain said strips in substantially equally spaced relation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Belgium.

15 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A FOLDABLE BED: A PLURALITY OF FRAME SECTIONS PIVOTALLY SECURED TOGETHER AND MOVABLE FROM A FOLDED TO AN EXTENDED RELATION TO EACH OTHER; A PLURALITY OF SINUOUS SPRING STRIPS SECURED IN EACH OF SAID FRAME SECTIONS, SAID STRIPS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DISTANCE APART WHEN SAID FRAME SECTIONS ARE IN EXTENDED RELATION, AND ADJACENT STRIPS IN ADJACENT FRAME SECTIONS BEING DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PIVOT AXIS BETWEEN SAID ADJACENT FRAME SECTIONS; AND A PLURALITY OF CONNECTING LINKS SECURING ADJACENT SPRING STRIPS TOGETHER. 